Image forming apparatus combining stamp image with original image

ABSTRACT

An image forming apparatus includes the following: a stamp shape data generation unit configured to generate stamp shape data indicating a shape of a stamp image, wherein the stamp image includes stamp color data indicating a color of the stamp image; a stamp combining unit configured to (i) generate planes of the stamp shape data corresponding to color components of the stamp color data, wherein a color density of each plane of the stamp shape data is equal to a color density of a corresponding color component of the stamp color data, and (ii) combine the planes of the stamp shape data with respective planes of image data to form a combined image; and an output execution unit configured to execute an output operation on the combined image.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority fromthe corresponding Japanese Patent Application No. 2013-128023, filed inthe Japan Patent Office on Jun. 18, 2013, the entire contents of whichare incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an image forming apparatus having afunction of combining a stamp image with an original image.

BACKGROUND

In a typical image forming method for either printing or transmitting anoutput based on image data having planes corresponding to plurality ofcolor components, 1-bit raster data is converted into respective piecesof 8-bit RGB raster data. Then, image data having of planes of colorcomponents of RGB is generated. Subsequently, the output based on theimage data is either printed or transmitted.

In the typical image forming method, as illustrated in FIG. 7, when astamp image is combined with image data 91 formed of planes 91 a, 91 b,and 91 c of a respective plurality of color components,color-component-specific stamp images 92 a, 92 b, and 92 c obtained bydecomposing the stamp image into color components corresponding to theplanes 91 a, 91 b, and 91 c of the image data 91 are generated. Then, inthe typical image forming method, the color-component-specific stampimages 92 a, 92 b, and 92 c are combined with the corresponding planes91 a, 91 b, and 91 c.

In the typical image forming method, a number ofcolor-component-specific stamp images equal to the number of planes ofthe image data are generated, which necessitates a large amount ofmemory capacity to store the color-component-specific stamp images.

SUMMARY

An image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure includes a stamp shape data generation unit, a stampcombining unit, and an output execution unit. The stamp shape datageneration unit is configured to generate stamp shape data indicating ashape of a stamp image. The stamp image also includes stamp color dataindicating a color of the stamp image. The stamp combining unit isconfigured to generate planes of the stamp shape data corresponding tocolor components of the stamp color data, such that a color density ofeach plane of the stamp shape data is equal to a color density of acorresponding color component of the stamp color data. The stampcombining unit is also configured to combine the planes of the stampshape data with planes of image data to form a combined image. Theoutput execution unit is configured to execute an output operation onthe combined image.

An image forming method according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure includes: (i) generating, via a stamp shape data generationunit, stamp shape data indicating a shape of a stamp image, where thestamp image includes stamp color data indicating a color of the stampimage; (ii) generating, via a stamp combining unit, planes of the stampshape data corresponding to color components of the stamp color data,wherein a color density of each plane of the stamp shape data is equalto a color density of a corresponding color component of the stamp colordata; (iii) combining, via the stamp combining unit, the planes of thestamp shape data with respective planes of image data to form a combinedimage; and (iv) executing, via an output execution unit, an outputoperation on the combined image.

A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium according to anembodiment of the present disclosure has instructions of an imageforming program stored thereon that, when executed by a processor of acomputer executes the image forming program. The image forming programincludes at least a first program code, a second program code, a thirdprogram code, and a fourth program code. The first program code causesthe computer to generate stamp shape data indicating a shape of a stampimage, where the stamp image includes stamp color data indicating acolor of the stamp image. The second program code causes the computer togenerate planes of the stamp shape data corresponding to colorcomponents of the stamp color data, wherein a color density of eachplane of the stamp shape data is equal to a color density of acorresponding color component of the stamp color data. The third programcode causes the computer to combine the planes of the stamp shape datawith respective planes of image data to form a combined image. The thirdprogram code causes the computer to execute an output operation on thecombined image.

Additional features and advantages are described herein, and will beapparent from the following detailed description and the figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

All drawings are intended to illustrate some aspects and examples of thepresent disclosure. The drawings described are only schematic and arenon-limiting, and are not necessarily drawn to scale.

FIG. 1 illustrates a configuration of an MFP according to an embodimentof the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example operation of the MFP illustrated in FIG. 1generating a combined image that includes image data and a stamp imageand executing an operation using the combined image.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example in which the MFP illustrated in FIG. 1combines planes of the stamp image with planes of image data formed ofthree colors of CMY.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example in which the MFP illustrated in FIG. 1combines the stamp image caused to be transmissive with the image dataformed of the three colors of CMY when only a density of magenta amongcolor components of the stamp image is not zero.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example in which the MFP illustrated in FIG. 1combines the stamp image caused to overwrite the image data with theimage data formed of the three colors of CMY when only a density ofmagenta among color components of the stamp image is not zero.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example in which the MFP illustrated in FIG. 1combines the stamp image surrounded by a hollow rectangle frame with theimage data formed of the three colors of CMY when only a density ofmagenta among color components of the stamp image is not zero.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example in which a typical image forming apparatuscombines a stamp image with an image data.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various embodiments are described below with reference to the figures.It should be understood, however, that numerous variations from thedepicted arrangements and functions are possible while remaining withinthe scope and spirit of the claims. For instance, one or more elementsmay be added, removed, combined, distributed, substituted,re-positioned, re-ordered, and/or otherwise changed. Further, where thisdescription refers to one or more functions being implemented on and/orby one or more devices, one or more machines, and/or one or morenetworks, it should be understood that one or more of such entitiescould carry out one or more of such functions by themselves or incooperation, and may do so by application of any suitable combination ofhardware, firmware, and/or software. For instance, one or moreprocessors may execute one or more sets of programming instructions asat least part of carrying out one or more of the functions describedherein.

Hereinafter, a description is made of an embodiment of the presentdisclosure with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First, a description is made of a configuration of a multifunctionperipheral (MFP) serving as an image forming apparatus according to theembodiment.

FIG. 1 illustrates a configuration of an MFP 10 according to theembodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the MFP 10 includes an operation unit 11, adisplay unit 12, a scanner 13, a printer 14, a FAX communication unit15, a network communication unit 16, a storage unit 17, and a controlunit 18. The operation unit 11 is a device including buttons or the likethrough which a user inputs various operations. The display unit 12 is adevice such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) that displays variouskinds of information. The scanner 13 is a device that reads an imagefrom an original. The printer 14 is a device that executes printing on arecording medium such as paper. The FAX communication unit 15 is adevice that performs FAX communications to/from an external facsimileapparatus (not shown) through a communication line such as a publictelephone line. The network communication unit 16 is a device thatperforms communications to/from an external device through a networksuch as a local area network (LAN) and the Internet. The storage unit 17is a nonvolatile storage device such as an electrically erasableprogrammable read only memory (EEPROM) and a hard disk drive (HDD) thatstores various kinds of data. The control unit 18 is a processor thatcontrols the entire MFP 10.

The operation unit 11 may include an input device that forms a touchpanel together with the display unit 12.

The storage unit 17 stores an image forming program 17 a used to form animage. The image forming program 17 a may be installed in the MFP 10 ata manufacturing stage of the MFP 10, may be installed in the MFP 10 froma storage medium such as a universal serial bus (USB) memory or an SDmemory card, or may be installed in the MFP 10 from the network.

The control unit 18 includes, for example, a central processing unit(CPU), a read only memory (ROM) for storing a program and differentkinds of data, and a random access memory (RAM) used as a work area forthe CPU. The CPU is configured to execute the program stored in the ROMor the storage unit 17.

The control unit 18 executes the image forming program 17 a stored inthe storage unit 17, to thereby function as a stamp combining unit 18 a,an output execution unit 18 b, and a stamp shape data generation unit 18c. The stamp combining unit 18 a combines a stamp image with image datato thereby generate a combined image. The stamp image may include stampshape data indicating a shape of the stamp image and a color of thestamp shape. One such example of a stamp is a character string printedin a particular color, although other such shapes may exist. Further,the stamp shape may be set via an input received from the operation unit11, such that the stamp shape may be designated after an MFP hasreceived image data of a document to print but before the MFP generatesthe output for printing or other transmission. The image data may beformed of a plurality of planes, where each plane corresponds to asingle color component. One such example of the planes of image data area cyan plane, a magenta plane, and a yellow plane, although other suchplanes may exist. The output execution unit 18 b executes an outputoperation, such as printing the combined image or transmitting thecombined image over a communication network, among other operations. Thestamp shape data generation unit 18 c generates stamp shape dataindicating the shape of the stamp image.

It should be noted that a stamp image comprises stamp shape data andstamp color data. Both the stamp shape data and stamp color data may beinput via the operation unit 11. As a result, a stamp shape, such astext having a particular font, and a stamp color may be separatelyspecified.

Next, a description is made of an operation of the MFP 10.

The control unit 18 of the MFP 10 executes an operation illustrated inFIG. 2 when an instruction for the printing involving the combining ofthe stamp image is input through the operation unit 11.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example operation of the MFP 10 generating acombined image that includes image data and a stamp image and executingan operation using the combined image. FIG. 3 illustrates an example inwhich the MFP 10 combines image data 21, where the image data includescyan, magenta, and yellow (CMY) planes, with the stamp image.

As illustrated in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the stamp shape data generationunit 18 c of the control unit 18 generates 1 bit per pixel (bpp) rasterdata by rasterizing a character string using a font, the shape of thetext serving as a base of the stamp image (Step S101).

Subsequently, the stamp shape data generation unit 18 c converts the1-bpp raster data generated in Step S101 into 8-bpp grayscale rasterdata, to thereby generate the stamp shape data 22 indicating the shapeof the stamp image (Step S102). In the embodiment, the grayscalecorresponding to the plane is set to 8 bpp, and the stamp shape datageneration unit 18 c converts the 1-bpp raster data into 8-bpp rasterdata. Here, the stamp shape data generation unit 18 c executes theprocessing of Step S102 by using dedicated hardware that converts the1-bpp raster data into the 8-bpp raster data. Further, the stamp shapedata generation unit 18 c generates the stamp shape data 22 asmonochrome data without generating color data in the processing of StepS102. In other words, the stamp shape data generation unit 18 cgenerates only the stamp shape data 22 on one monochrome plane in theprocessing of Step S102.

After the processing of Step S102, the stamp combining unit 18 agenerates planes of the stamp shape data 22 that combined form the stampcolor data of the stamp image (Step S103). In other words, the colordensities of each plane of the stamp shape data 22 are adjusted to matchthe color densities specified by the stamp color data. Note that a“plane” may herein refer to a single color component of an image, suchthat combining all of an images “planes” form the color of the image.Then, the stamp combining unit 18 a combines the planes of stamp shapedata 22 with corresponding planes of the image data 21 (Step S104). Thestamp combining unit 18 a may execute the processing of Step S103 byusing dedicated hardware. Note that, color densities of the respectivecolor components of the stamp image may be designated in the instructionfor the printing involving the combining of the stamp image through theoperation unit 11 along with the stamp image to be combined.

In FIG. 3, a cyan plane of the stamp shape data 22 a of the stamp imageis combined with the cyan plane of the image data 21 a. A magenta planeof the stamp shape data 22 b of the stamp image is combined with themagenta plane of the image data 21 b. A yellow plane of the stamp shapedata 22 c of the stamp image is combined with the yellow plane of theimage data 21 c.

For example, when the color densities of cyan, magenta, and yellowplanes of the stamp image are 255, 128, and 100 in 8 bpp, respectively,the stamp combining unit 18 a combines the cyan plane of the stamp shapedata 22 with the cyan plane of the image data 21 a after adjusting thestamp shape data 22 to have the color density of 255. Then, the stampcombining unit 18 a combines the magenta plane of the stamp shape data22 with the magenta plane of the image data 21 b after adjusting thestamp shape data 22 to have the color density of 128. Then the stampcombining unit 18 a combines the yellow plane of the stamp shape data 22with the yellow plane of the image data 21 c after adjusting the stampshape data 22 to have the color density of 100. In other words, a cyanplane of the stamp image of the color density of 255 is combined withthe cyan plane of the image data 21 a, a magenta plane of the stampimage of the color density of 128 is combined with the magenta plane ofthe image data 21 b, and a yellow plane of the stamp image of the colordensity of 100 is combined with the yellow plane of the image data 21 c.

After the processing of Step S103, the output execution unit 18 b mayexecute a print output performed by the printer 14 based on the imagedata combined with the stamp image in Step S103 (Step S104), and theoperation illustrated in FIG. 2 is brought to an end.

Note that, the example illustrated in FIG. 3 relates to a case wherenone of the color densities of the planes of the stamp image—such as thecyan plane, the magenta plane, and the yellow plane—is zero. Instead orin addition, when the color density of a given plane of the stamp imageis zero, the stamp combining unit 18 a may omit the processing forcombining the stamp shape data 22 with the given plane of the colorcomponent in Step S103.

The example illustrated in FIG. 4 relates to a case where only the colordensity of the magenta plane of the stamp image is not zero. Forexample, when the color densities of the cyan plane, the magenta plane,and the yellow plane of the stamp image are 0, 255, and 0 in 8 bpp, asillustrated in FIG. 4, the stamp combining unit 18 a combines the stampshape data 22 generated in Step S102 with the magenta plane of the imagedata 21 b after adjusting the magenta plane of the stamp shape data 22to have the density of 255. Then, the stamp combining unit 18 a inhibitsthe stamp shape data 22 generated in Step S102 from being combined withthe cyan plane of the image data 21 a and the yellow plane of the imagedata 21 c. In other words, the stamp combining unit 18 a omits theprocessing for combining the stamp shape data 22 with the cyan plane ofthe image data 21 a and the processing for combining the stamp shapedata 22 with the yellow plane of the image data 21 c in Step S103.

In one example, a stamp image may be configured to overwrite image data21, which is illustrated in FIG. 5. In another example, a stamp image issurrounded by a hollow rectangle frame, and is combined with the imagedata 21, which is illustrated in FIG. 6. In either of these examples,when a particular plane of the stamp image has a density of zero, thestamp combining unit 18 a still performs the processing of combining theparticular plane of the stamp image with its corresponding plane of theimage data. In other words, the stamp combining unit may not omit theprocessing of combining a particular plane of a stamp image with itscorresponding plane of image data, even if the density of the particularplane of the stamp image is zero, under certain circumstances, such asoverwriting the image data or when the stamp image is surrounded by ahollow rectangle frame, for example.

As described above, when combining the stamp image with the image data21 formed of the planes 21 a, 21 b, and 21 c of a respective pluralityof color components, the MFP 10 generates the stamp shape data 22indicating the shape of the stamp image (Step S102). Then, the MFP 10generates planes of stamp shape data 22, each plane having a densitycorresponding to a color component of the stamp color data. After that,the MFP 10 combines the planes of the stamp shape data 22 with each ofthe corresponding planes of image data 21 a, 21 b, and 21 c (Step S103).

Therefore it suffices that one stamp shape data 22 is stored in the RAMinstead of a number of color-component-specific stamp images equal tothe number of the planes 21 a, 21 b, and 21 c of the image data 21.Accordingly, the MFP 10 can suppress the capacity of the RAM necessaryto combine the stamp image with the image data 21 formed of the planes21 a, 21 b, and 21 c of the respective plurality of color components.

In particular, if the MFP 10 is configured to store a number ofcolor-component-specific stamp images equal to the number of planes ofthe image data in the RAM, as the size of the font serving as the baseof the stamp image increases, a data size of all the plurality ofcolor-component-specific stamp images increases. Accordingly, as thesize of the font serving as the base of the stamp image increases, theMFP 10 is more advantageous in suppressing the capacity of the RAMnecessary to combine the stamp image.

Further, if the MFP 10 is configured to store a number ofcolor-component-specific stamp images equal to the number of planes ofthe image data in the RAM, the number of planes increases when the stampimage is a color image than when the stamp image is a monochrome image.Therefore, a total data size of the plurality ofcolor-component-specific stamp images becomes larger. Accordingly, theMFP 10 can suppress the capacity of the RAM necessary to combine thestamp image when the stamp image is a color image.

Further, the MFP 10 omits unnecessary processing for combining the stampshape data 22 with the planes 21 a, 21 b, and 21 c, and can thereforealleviate a processing load in combining the stamp image with the imagedata 21 formed of the planes 21 a, 21 b, and 21 c of the respectiveplurality of color components.

Further, the output performed by the output execution unit 18 b may be aprint output performed by the printer 14 in the embodiment or atransmissive output. For example, the output performed by the outputexecution unit 18 b may be an output such as a FAX transmissionperformed by the FAX communication unit 15 or a transmission performedby the network communication unit 16.

Further, in the embodiment, the stamp shape data generation unit 18 cuses the dedicated hardware that converts the 1-bpp raster data into the8-bpp raster data, but may use software instead.

Further, in the embodiment, the stamp combining unit 18 a may usededicated hardware to execute the processing of Step S103, or the stampcombining unit 18 a may use software instead to execute the processing.

Further, the image forming apparatus according to the present disclosureis the MFP in the embodiment, but may be an image forming apparatusother than the MFP, such as a dedicated printer, a dedicated copier, ora dedicated FAX machine.

It should be understood that various changes and modifications to thepresently embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilledin the art. Such changes and modifications can be made without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the present subject matter and withoutdiminishing its intended advantages. It is therefore intended that suchchanges and modifications be covered by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An image forming apparatus, comprising: a stampshape data generation unit configured to generate stamp shape dataindicating a shape of a stamp image, wherein the stamp image includesstamp color data indicating a color of the stamp image; a stampcombining unit configured to (i) generate planes of the stamp shape datacorresponding to color components of the stamp color data, wherein acolor density of each plane of the stamp shape data is equal to a colordensity of a corresponding color component of the stamp color data, and(ii) combine the planes of the stamp shape data with image data to forma combined image, wherein the image data has planes each correspondingto a color component, and wherein the stamp combining unit is configuredto combine the planes of the stamp shape data with corresponding planesof the image data to form the combined image; and an output executionunit configured to execute an output operation on the combined image. 2.The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: anetwork communication unit connected to a communication network, whereinthe network communication unit is configured to transmit the combinedimage to a computing device connected to the communication network. 3.The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: aprinter configured to print the combined image onto a recording medium.4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, based on adensity of a plane of the stamp shape data being zero, the stampcombining unit is configured to prevent processing for combining theplane of the stamp shape data with a corresponding plane of the imagedata.
 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein thestamp shape data generation unit is further configured to: rasterize acharacter string using a font to generate 1-bpp (bit per pixel) rasterdata; and convert the 1-bpp raster data into 8-bpp raster data, whereinthe 8-bpp raster data is associated with a shape having a grayscalecolor between black and white.
 6. The image forming apparatus accordingto claim 1, further comprising: an operation unit configured to receivean input character string and an input color, wherein the inputcharacter string indicates the shape of the stamp image and the inputcolor indicates the color of the stamp image.
 7. The image formingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image data is indicative ofa scanned original document.
 8. An image forming method, comprising:generating, via a stamp shape data generation unit, stamp shape dataindicating a shape of a stamp image, wherein the stamp image includesstamp color data indicating a color of the stamp image; generating, viaa stamp combining unit, planes of the stamp shape data corresponding tocolor components of the stamp color data, wherein a color density ofeach plane of the stamp shape data is equal to a color density of acorresponding color component of the stamp color data; combining, viathe stamp combining unit, the planes of the stamp shape data with imagedata to form a combined image, wherein the image data has planes eachcorresponding to a color component, and wherein the planes of the stampshape data are combined with corresponding planes of the image data toform the combined image; and executing, via an output execution unit, anoutput operation on the combined image.
 9. The image forming methodaccording to claim 8, further comprising: transmitting, via a networkcommunication unit connected to a communication network, the combinedimage to a computing device connected to the communication network. 10.The image forming method according to claim 8, further comprising:printing, via a printer, the combined image onto a recording medium. 11.The image forming method according to claim 8, further comprising: basedon a density of a plane of the stamp shape data being zero, preventingprocessing, via the stamp combining unit, for combining the plane of thestamp shape data with a corresponding plane of the image data.
 12. Theimage forming method according to claim 8, further comprising:rasterizing, via the stamp shape data generation unit, a characterstring using a font to generate 1-bpp (bit per pixel) raster data; andconverting, via the stamp shape data generation unit, the 1-bpp rasterdata into 8-bpp raster data, wherein the 8-bpp raster data is associatedwith a shape having a grayscale color between black and white.
 13. Theimage forming method according to claim 8, further comprising:receiving, via an operation unit, an input character string and an inputcolor, wherein the input character string indicates the shape of thestamp image and the input color indicates the color of the stamp image.14. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium havinginstructions of an image forming program stored thereon that, whenexecuted by a processor of a computer, cause the computer to execute theimage forming program, the image forming program comprising: a firstprogram code for causing the computer to generate stamp shape dataindicating a shape of a stamp image, wherein the stamp image includesstamp color data indicating a color of the stamp image; a second programcode for causing the computer to generate planes of the stamp shape datacorresponding to color components of the stamp color data, wherein acolor density of each plane of the stamp shape data is equal to a colordensity of a corresponding color component of the stamp color data; athird program code for causing the computer to combine the planes of thestamp shape data with image data to form a combined image, wherein theimage data has planes each corresponding to a color component, andwherein the third program code causes the computer to combine the planesof the stamp shape data with corresponding planes of the image data toform the combined image; and a fourth program code for causing thecomputer to execute an output operation on the combined image.
 15. Thenon-transitory computer-readable recording medium according to claim 14,wherein the image forming program further comprises: a fifth programcode for causing the computer to transmit the combined image to acomputing device connected to a communication network.
 16. Thenon-transitory computer-readable recording medium according to claim 14,wherein the image forming program further comprises: a sixth programcode for causing the computer to print the combined image onto arecording medium.
 17. The non-transitory computer-readable recordingmedium according to claim 14, wherein the image forming program furthercomprises: a seventh program code for causing the computer to, based ona density of a plane of the stamp shape data being zero, preventprocessing for combining the plane of the stamp shape data with acorresponding plane of the image data.
 18. The non-transitorycomputer-readable recording medium according to claim 14, wherein theimage forming program further comprises: an eighth program code forcausing the computer to rasterize a character string using a font togenerate 1-bpp (bit per pixel) raster data; and a ninth program code forcausing the computer to convert the 1 bpp raster data into 8-bpp rasterdata, wherein the 8-bpp raster data is associated with a shape having agrayscale color between black and white.
 19. The non-transitorycomputer-readable recording medium of claim 14, wherein the imageforming program further comprises: a tenth program code for causing acomputer to receive an input character string and an input color,wherein the input character string indicates the shape of the stampimage and the input color indicates the color of the stamp image. 20.The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium of claim 14,wherein the image data is indicative of a scanned original document.